US3673774A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cane harvester
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-11-23
•
Granted: 1972-07-04
•
Expires: 1991-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A sugar cane harvester has cutters for removing cane tops and cutting the stalks which are conveyed to a chopper having a bladed and a slotted rotor interacting to cut the stalks into billets and deliver them to a cane cleaner of toothed parallel rotating drums which tear leaf from the billets and discharge them to an elevator, on which they are carried over parallel screws, alternate screws being oppositely wound and oppositely rotated, for pulling leafy matter from the billets before the billets are discharged from the elevator.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Michael Mizzi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:52
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D45/00; A01D45/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A sugar cane harvester including a wheel-mounted power-driven main frame; a pair of crop lifter arms extending forwardly from both sides of the front of the main frame for passing to either side of a row of cane to be harvested; a topping cutter mounted on and extending forwardly from the main frame for severing tops from the cane; base cutter means on the main frame for cutting the cane adjacent to ground level; a conveyor on the main frame for conveying the cut cane rearwardly, butt-ends first, through the harvester from the base cutter means to a chopping cutter on the main frame; the chopping cutter cutting the cane stalks into billets and discharging the billets to a cane cleaner assembly comprising a series of parallel transversely extending cleaning drums on the main frame, said drum receiving thereon billets from the chopping cutter, a plurality of circumferentially extending series of teeth extending from each of the drums, means for rotating the drums in the same direction to urge billets received thereonto to the rear and a blower above the drums for directing air down onto the drums; the teeth tearing leafy matter from the cane billets received thereon and conveying such leafy matter under the drums and there discharging it, and impelling the billets to an elevator mounted at the rear of the main frame for elevating and discharging the billets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
A sugar cane harvester including a wheel-mounted power-driven main frame; a pair of crop lifter arms extending forwardly from both sides of the front of the main frame for passing to either side of a row of cane to be harvested; a topping cutter mounted on and extending forwardly from the main frame for severing tops from the cane; base cutter means on the main frame for cutting the cane adjacent to ground level; a conveyor on the main frame for conveying the cut cane rearwardly, butt-ends first, through the harvester from the base cutter means to a chopping cutter on the main frame; the chopping cutter cutting the cane stalks into billets and discharging the billets to a cane cleaner assembly comprising a series of parallel transversely extending cleaning drums on the main frame, said drum receiving thereon billets from the chopping cutter, a plurality of circumferentially extending series of teeth extending from each of the drums, means for rotating the drums in the same direction to urge billets received thereonto to the rear and a blower above the drums for directing air down onto the drums; the teeth tearing leafy matter from the cane billets received thereon and conveying such leafy matter under the drums and there discharging it, and impelling the billets to an elevator mounted at the rear of the main frame for elevating and discharging the billets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
A sugar cane harvester according to claim 1 wherein the chopping cutter includes an upper rotor and a lower rotor, the axes of each of said rotors extending transversely to the main frame; means for counter-rotating the two rotors; a plurality of transversely extending blades extending substantially radially from the upper rotor, a series of transversely extending slots in the lower rotor, said motor being counter-rotated, the blades of the upper rotor entering the slots of the lower rotor to chop into billets cane fed between the rotors by the conveyor; and transverse feeder vanes extending from the lower rotor for impelling the billets rearwardly in the harvester.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A sugar cane harvester according to claim 1 wherein the elevator includes a casing inclining upwardly from the main frame and having sides and a bottom; a series of endless-chain-mounted transverse cleats, and means for driving the chains to move the cleats upwards over the said bottom; the bottom including a cleaning section comprising a series of adjacent longitudinally extending cleaning rollers each having a helical flight about a shaft, the flights of succeeding rollers being oppositely wound, and means for rotating the adjacent rollers in opposite directions, the flights of the rollers catching leafy matter on cane billets conveyed by the cleats and drawing it between the rollers to be discharged from below the casing bottom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
A sugar cane harvester according to claim 1 wherein the topping cutter includes a topper frame supported in front of the main frame by lifting members whereby the topper frame may be raised or lowered; a conveyor drum, mounted on the topper frame, the axis of said conveyor drum being substantially vertical; means for rotating the drum about its axis; a pair of rotary cutters on the topper frame below the drum, one to each side thereof; means for driving the cutters; and feeder means on the drum for engaging cane tops as the harvester advances and for carrying them to one of the rotary cutters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
190 words
A sugar cane harvester according to claim 1 wherein a pair of rotary crop lifters are mounted, in rearwardly and upwardly inclined and convergent arrangement, on the crop lifter arms, each of said crop lifter being a cylindrical shaft with a helical flight secured thereabout, the lower and front part of which is wound in opposite direction to the upper and rear part; and means for counter-rotating the rotary crop lifters about their axes; the flights engaging and lifting cane stalks with the front parts of their flights, and with the rear parts of their flights urging the engaged cane stalks forwardly relative to the harvester; and a pair of rotary crop separators are mounted, in rearwardly and upwardly inclined and divergent arrangement, on the outer parts of the crop lifter arms, each of said crop separators being a cylindrical shaft with a helical flight secured thereabout; and means for counter-rotating the rotary crop separators about their axes; the flights of the crop separators engaging cane stalks of a row of cane to either side of the cane being harvested and urging them upwardly and rearwardly relative to the harvester.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A sugar cane harvester according to claim 1 wherein the harvester is adapted to harvest simultaneously two succeeding rows of cane, the crop lifter arms passing to opposite sides of the two rows; and there is connected to the main frame and extending forwardly from the front bottom part thereof a divider, forwardly tapering in plan view, for passing between and separating cane of the two rows.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |